Audio Research Ref. 3, Ref. 5, or the Ref. 5se.

There is a REF 3 at the ARC dealer in WA DC for $5k.....

the guy who designed and built your speakers thinks pretty highly of the 5 SE
i believe the advice he gave me was along the lines of giant killer...
2640 hours on mine.
ARC bashers for improving the product abound...
if you love your model keep it.
want an upgrade go that route..
my only beef was the cheap plastic remote..i sprung for metal 3 years in....

maybe they were stunted giants Taters.....
Hansen <Ayre> has some interesting things to say about the sonics of skipping the pre but he sells a few preamps.
Best sound I have heard from a Wadia ( which was incredible BTW) was thru a CJ GAT.....
what does your trusted Vandy dealer say Russ ?

tushima1

what is a 100% ge ?

Got it and on it ! Will advise how it sounds vs. factory, which I replaced about 100 hours ago w another factory ARC tube.